Hearing aid device with an antenna

ABSTRACT

The production of a hearing aid device suitable for wireless signal transmission is simplified by providing fastening elements connected as one piece with the housing shell. The fastening elements serve for placement and fastening of an antenna or coil in the housing shell of the appertaining hearing aid device. The production of a hearing aid device with a corresponding antenna or coil is thereby simplified. The alignment of the antenna or coil in the housing shell can also already be optimized using a computer model of the housing shell.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a method for production of a housingshell for a hearing aid device as well as a hearing aid device of thetype having a housing shell, an input transducer for acquisition of aninput signal and transducing it into an electrical input signal, asignal processing unit for processing the electrical input signal, anoutput transducer for transducing the processed electrical input signalinto an output signal that can be perceived by a user as an acousticsignal, and an antenna or coil for wireless signal transmission betweenthe hearing aid device and a further apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Modern hearing aid devices frequently offer the possibility of wirelesssignal transmission between the hearing aid device and a furtherapparatus, for example a further hearing aid device, a communicationapparatus or a remote control. Such hearing aid devices have an antennaor coil for wireless transmission and reception of data.

The housing of a hearing aid device that can be worn in the ear (ItE)frequently has an individually-shaped housing shell and a prefabricatedfaceplate. For simplification of the manufacturer process, hearing aiddevice components (such as sound transducers, components for signalprocessing and a battery for voltage supply) are arranged on thefaceplate as far as possible. The antenna or coil required for wirelesstransmission or reception also can be arranged on the faceplate duringthe manufacturing process, but this increases the space requirement forarrangement of components on the faceplate. It is also difficult toindividually align the antenna or, respectively, coil arranged on thefaceplate. Moreover, the available space in the auditory canal isfrequently not optimally utilized, depending on the individual anatomyof the auditory canal.

In the manufacture of hearing aid devices, methods are known, forproduction of housing shells in which data about the individual auditorycanal of a hearing device user are initially acquired. A computer modelof the housing shell of a hearing aid device to be produced is generatedfrom the data in a CAD process. In addition to the individual housingshell, the remaining components of the hearing aid device (soundtransducer, signal processors, battery etc.) are also generated asvirtual computer models. The hearing aid device thus can already begenerated using the computer model before the actual production. Usingthe computer model it can be clarified whether the desired componentsfit in the individual housing shell. If necessary, the design of thehousing shell can be adapted or other components can be selected. Forproduction of the housing shell, the data so acquired are finallysupplied to a machine that generates an individual housing shell fromthe computer model. Such machines are well known from the field of rapidprototyping. The production can ensue according to different methods, ofwhich the SLS method (selective laser sintering), the SLA method (stereolithography) or the DLP method (digital light processing) are customaryfor production of housing shells of hearing aid devices. For a hearingaid device wearable in the ear, a subsequently-produced individualhousing shell is normally combined with an industrially prefabricatedfaceplate that already carries a majority of the electronic hearing aiddevice components.

A method for production of an individual housing shell for a hearing aiddevice, wherein the housing shell is adapted to the contours of anauditory canal of a user, is known from EP 0 516 808 E1. The method isbased on process steps that are known from the field of rapidprototyping.

A mount for attachment of an earpiece in a hearing aid device is knownfrom United States Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0074138. Themount has components fashioned in one piece with the housing shell, thecomponents being produced simultaneously with the housing.

A hearing device in which an antenna is fashioned in the material of thehousing or as an electrically-conductive layer on the hearing devicehousing is known from DE 102004017832 B3. The housing is used as acarrier material for the antenna and the space for the antenna (thatwould otherwise be provided on the circuit board, for example) can beforegone.

A hearing device with an antenna that is integrated into the housing ofthe hearing device is known from DE 10115896 A1.

The attachment of an antenna or coil for wireless signal transmission ona prefabricated faceplate is problematic be cause the mounting systemmust be altered due to this additional component and because of thespace requirement additionally required for this. Moreover, the usagecapability of the faceplate is severely limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to improve the attachment of anantenna or coil for wireless signal transmission in the housing of ahearing aid device.

In a hearing aid device, an input signal is acquired and converted intoan electrical input signal by an input transducer. At least onemicrophone which acquires an acoustic input signal typically serves asan input transducer. Modern hearing aid devices frequently have amicrophone system with a number of microphones in order to achievereception dependent on the incident direction of acoustic signals (adirectional characteristic). The input transducer can also be atelephone coil or an antenna for acquisition of electromagnetic inputsignals. The input signals transduced by the input transducer intoelectrical input signals are supplied to a signal processing unit forfurther processing and amplification. For compensation of the individualhearing loss of a hearing device user, the further processing andamplification normally ensue dependent on the signal frequency. Thesignal processing unit generates an electrical output signal that issupplied to the ear of the hearing device user via an output transducerso that the user perceives the output signal as an acoustic signal.Earpieces that generate an acoustic output signal are typically used asoutput transducers. Output transducers for generation of mechanicaloscillations are also known that directly excite specific parts of theear (such as, for example, the ossicle) to oscillations. Furthermore,output transducers are known that directly stimulate nerve cells of theear.

The invention can advantageously be applied in computer-controlledmanufacturing methods for manufacturing of hearing aid devices and inparticular for production of hearing aid devices wearable in the ear(ItE) in which a housing shell to be produced initially exists in theform of computer data. A virtual placement of electronic components inthe housing shell subsequently ensues in a computer-aided manner. Boththe placement of individual components and the shaping of the housingshell can be optimized by means of computer-aided optimizationprocesses. This optimization can be implemented manually by operation ofa user interface with the aid of a computer or ensue in afully-automated process or even ensue in a mixed form in which both anoptimization via an algorithm aromatically running on a computer and viamanual cooperation of the person operating the computer.

According to the invention, in addition to other hearing aid devicecomponents (faceplate, receiver etc.) the antenna is already taken intoaccount in the design of the hearing aid device by the CAD system. Theplacement of the antenna or coil is thereby automatically optimized bysoftware or in connection with manual user inputs. If a suitableposition for the antenna or coil is found, virtual elements forplacement and/or attachment of the antenna or coil in the housing shellare automatically initially generated. These elements are formationsconnected as one piece with the housing shell, by means of whichformations the antenna or coil can be placed and attached in the housingwith an established alignment (orientation). These formations are thenphysically generated during the manufacture of the housing shell.

The invention offers the advantage that the antenna or coil is takeninto account by the CAD system during the computer-aided design of theappertaining hearing aid device. The antenna or coil is directly placedin the housing shell, and the faceplate therefore does not have to beexpanded by an antenna or coil, such that no increased space requirementarises on the faceplate due to the antenna or coil. Normally free spacepresent in the housing shell anyway can be used for the arrangement ofthe antenna or coil. An enlargement of the housing shell to accommodatethe antenna or coil is therefore necessary only in rare cases Thereceptacles generated in the housing shell by the invention forplacement and/or attachment of the antenna or coil also enable a fastmounting of the antenna or coil in the produced housing shell. Theproduction costs of the appertaining hearing aid device thus can bedecreased. Moreover, the computer-aided placement of the antenna or coilin the housing shell offers not only an optimization of the spacerequirement but also an optimization with regard to its function.Depending on transmission purpose for which the antenna is primarilyprovided, in addition to the position the alignment can also beoptimized. For example, for a binaural hearing aid device system in theleft ear and a hearing aid device worn in the right ear, the employedantennas or coils can be aligned such that the signal transmissionbetween the two hearing aid devices is optimized. This can ensue, forexample, by antennas of two hearing aid devices worn in the ears of auser being aligned relative to one another such that an optimized signaltransmission ensues. The necessary transmission power is therebydecreased, or the reception is thereby improved.

The invention enables the use of an antenna or coil for wireless signaltransmission in connection with a hearing aid device, even given a verysmall device configuration (for example a CIC (completely-in-canal)hearing aid device).

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic section through a hearing aid device according tothe invention with fastening elements formed on the housing shell for anantenna.

FIG. 2 shows a snap (catch) connection for the antenna.

FIG. 3 shows an adhesive connection for the antenna,

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for the manufacture of fastening elements for anantenna or coil in a housing shell.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a hearing aid device 1 that can be worn in the ear with anindividually fabricated housing shell 2. Such housing shells arefrequently produced according to production methods that are known fromthe field of rapid prototyping. Data with regard to the auditory canalof a user are thereby initially acquired and stored in a computer. Acomputer model of the housing is ultimately calculated from these data.The model is thereby adapted such that the outer contours exactly matchthe contours of the individual auditory canal and all electroniccomponents provided for the hearing aid device find space in the housingshell. Data about the housing shell developed on the computer areultimately transferred to a production machine that generates thedesired housing-shell from the computer data. Prevalent productionmethods are, for example, the SLS method (selective laser sintering) andthe SLA method (stereo lithography).

To complete the appertaining hearing aid device, an earpiece 6 isintroduced into the finished housing shell 2 (for example glued in) andthe housing is, for example, closed with an industrially prefabricatedfaceplate. Electronic components (such as a microphone 4, asemiconductor component 5 (for example signal processor) and a batterybay (not shown)) are already located on the faceplate. In the exemplaryembodiment, cables 7 as well as solder connections 8 are provided forelectrically contacting the earpiece 6 with the electronic components ofthe faceplate 3. Upon assembly of the hearing aid device 1, the earpiece6 is initially introduced into the housing shell 2; the solderconnections 8 are subsequently produced and after this the faceplate 3is connected [for example clipped] to the housing shell 2.

In the hearing aid device according to the invention, a transmission andreception antenna 9 is provided for wireless signal transmission betweenthe hearing aid device 1 and a further apparatus, for example a secondhearing aid device of the same design for binaural feed of a user. Inknown in-the-ear hearing aid devices, such an antenna would eitheralready be provided on the faceplate or (similar to as in the earpiece6) be attached (for example adhered) in the shell before the assembly ofthe hearing aid device.

If the antenna is already provided on the faceplate, this has thedisadvantage that in principle more space must be provided for thefaceplate. This competes with the desire for miniaturization of thefaceplate and of the entire hearing aid device to the greatest possibleextent. The introduction of an antenna in the housing shell before theassembly of the appertaining hearing aid device can also cause problemssince a suitable space in the housing shell must first be found. Underthe circumstances, a collision of the antenna with components arrangedon the faceplate can occur in the assembly of the hearing aid device.

According to the invention, the antenna 9 is already taken into accountin the design of the housing shell 2 on the computer, thus in thecomputer model. Since all further electronic components of the hearingaid device 1 are also advantageously taken into account in the computermodel, a suitable space for the antenna 9 can already be determinedbefore the assembly, such that no collision of the antenna 9 with othercomponents ensues. In order to also find this space found in thecomputer model for the antenna 9 later in the assembly of the realhearing aid device, fastening elements for attachment of the antenna 9are initially virtually provided on the housing shell 2 in the computermodel and later also provided in the real housing shell 2. This has theadvantage that a suitable space for the attachment of the antenna 9 canbe recognized immediately upon assembly of the hearing aid device 1using the fastening means integrated into the housing shell 2. Theperson who assembles the hearing aid device therefore does not firsthave to search for a long time for a suitable space.

The invention furthermore offers the advantage that a specific alignmentin the housing shell 2 is already provided by the attachment means. Thisalignment is already established in the computer model of the hearingaid device 1. A specific alignment of the antenna with regard to theauditory canal of the individual user of the hearing aid device 1 isthereby also established. The antenna is aligned in the housing shell 2or the auditory canal of a user such that an optimized signaltransmission is enabled between the hearing aid device and a hearing aiddevice of identical construction in the second auditory canal of theuser. For example, both antennas of the hearing aid devices are alignedalong a straight line or parallel relative to one another.

In the framework of the invention a number of alternatives are possiblewith regard to the physical design of the attachment elements. Two ofthese alternatives are subsequently described:

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, catch flanges 11 and 12into which the antenna 9 can be pushed for fastening are shaped on thehousing shell. The antenna 9 is thus fastened and aligned according to atype of snap fit or latch in the housing shell 2. In order to achieve anexact positioning with regard to all spatial directions, a stop 10 isalso formed on the housing shell 2. According to the invention this isalso fashioned in one piece with the housing shell 2. In the assembly[mounting] the antenna 9 is then pushed into the receptacles 11 and 12such that the rear end of the antenna 9 abuts on the stop 10. Theantenna is thereby fastened and positioned exactly. Conductors 13 aswell as a plug connection 14 are provided for electrical contacting ofthe antenna 9 with the faceplate 3. The plug connection 14 enables asolder-free connection of the antenna 9 with the faceplate 3.Alternatively, a solder connection can be provided as is shown inconnection with the earpiece 6 and the solder connections 8 in theexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a fastening element 12 of FIG. 1 in a sectional view. Thefastening element 12 has two flange-shaped formations of the housingshell 2, the thickness of which is dimensioned so that a specificresilience is achieved. The flange-shaped appendages are elastic insofaras that the antenna 9 can be pushed into both flange-shaped formations,whereby it is then fastened and fixed by the appendages such that it isretained in position within the housing shell even given strongvibrations of the housing shell 2. The antenna could also be removedfrom the mount with a suitable tool (for example in the case of repair)without thereby destroying the mount 12 or the antenna 9.

FIG. 3 shows a different type of the attachment of the antenna 9 in ahearing aid device according to the invention. In contrast to theflange-shaped appendages according to FIG. 2, the fastening element 15is fashioned as a shell-shaped elevation of the housing shell. Uponassembly of the appertaining hearing aid device, the space provided forthe antenna can be immediately detected by looking into the housingshell. The antenna 9 is then placed into the shell and subsequentlyfastened and fixed with a suitable adhesive 16. The shell-shapedfastening element 15 can extend along a significant length of theantenna 9 or may present only at one or more short segments along theantenna 9, similar to the two fastening points in the forward region andrear region of the antenna 9 of FIG. 1.

The invention can particularly advantageously be applied for theproduction of hearing aid devices that can be worn in the ear, but it isnot limited to this particular housing design. For example, a housingshell of a hearing aid device wearable behind the ear can also bemanufactured in according to the same principle.

The flowchart according to FIG. 4 shows an overview of the design andthe production of a housing shell according to the invention. The designprocess begins with the generation of a digital 3-D representation ofthe housing shell that is calculated from computer data with regard tothe auditory canal of a user. In addition to the data with regard to theauditory canal, data also exist with regard to the outer shape and sizeof the electrical components that should be used for the hearing aiddevice. A digital 3-D representation of the hearing aid devicecomponents is thus also present in the employed computer. It is therebypossible to implement a virtual placement of the provided hearing aiddevice components in the virtual housing shell in a next processingstep. A suitable space for the antenna or, respectively coil in thehousing shell can likewise also be determined by means of the computer.An optimization can subsequently ensue in a further processing step. Anoptimization can thereby ensue given the selection of the electroniccomponents used, such that a desired housing structural shape (forexample CIC) of the hearing aid device to be produced is achieved in anoptimally cost-effective manner. The placement of the selectedcomponents or also the shape of the housing shell can also be adaptedand optimized to satisfy specified external boundary conditions. If,according to the invention, a suitable space and a suitable alignmentfor the antenna or coil are found, elements for placement and/orattachment of the antenna or, respectively, coil on the housing shellare initially generated in the digital 3-D representation of the hearingaid device. These elements can establish the space at which the antennaor coil should be attached in the housing shell, with the actualfastening ensuing in the production of the hearing aid device, forexample by the application of an adhesive. Alternatively, fasteningelements fashioned in one piece with the housing shell can be generated,such that a catch or snap connection for the antenna or coil arises,such that further fastening means (for example adhesive) are notnecessary. In addition to the data with regard to the housing shell tobe produced, data with regard to the elements for placement and/orfastening of the antenna or, respectively, coil are also then generatedand forwarded to the fabrication machine. A housing shell produced withthis data then already exhibits the corresponding fastening elements forthe antenna or coil at the end of the production process.

Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled inthe art, it is the intention of the inventor to embody within the patentwarranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably andproperly come within the scope of his contribution to the art.

1. A hearing aid device comprising: a housing shell; an input transducerdisposed in said housing shell that acquires an acoustic signal andtransduces said acoustic signal into an electrical input signal; asignal processing unit contained in said housing shell that processessaid electrical input signal to generate a processed electrical signal;an output transducer in said housing shell that transduces saidprocessed electrical signal into an output signal that can be humanlyperceived as an acoustic signal; a resonator, selected from the groupconsisting of antennas and coils, that wirelessly communicates with anapparatus that is remote from said hearing aid device; and formationsintegrally formed in an interior of said housing shell that receive andhold said resonator.
 2. A hearing aid device as claimed in claim 1wherein said housing shell has a size and configuration allowing saidhousing shell to be worn in a human ear.
 3. A hearing device as claimedin claim 1 wherein said formations are configured for detachablefastening of said resonator in said housing shell.
 4. A hearing deviceas claimed in claim 3 wherein said formations detachably hold saidresonator with a catch connection.
 5. A hearing device a claimed inclaim 3 wherein said formations detachably hold said resonator with asnap connection.
 6. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1 comprising anadhesive connection between said resonator and said formations to holdsaid resonator to said formations.
 7. A hearing device as claimed inclaim 1 comprising a faceplate connected to said housing shell, saidfaceplate carrying at least said input transducer and said signalprocessing unit.
 8. A hearing device as claimed in claim 7 comprising adetachable electrical connection between said resonator and saidfaceplate.
 9. A method for manufacturing a housing shell for a hearingaid device containing a resonator that communicates with an apparatusremote from said hearing aid device, said method comprising the stepsof: manufacturing a housing shell in an automated shell manufacturingprocedure; and in said automated shell manufacturing procedure,integrally generating formations, configured to receive and hold saidresonator, in an interior of said shell in one piece with said shell.10. A method as claimed in claim 9 comprising in said automated shellmanufacturing procedure: generating a computer model of the shell; usingsaid computer model of said shell, optimizing, in a computer, aplacement characteristic, selected from the group consisting of aposition and an alignment, of said resonator in said shell, to obtain anoptimized placement characteristic; and in said automated shellmanufacturing procedure, generating said formations at locations in saidinterior of said shell conforming to said optimized placementcharacteristic.
 11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein saidapparatus is a further hearing aid device in a binaural hearing systemthat includes said hearing aid device, and wherein the step ofoptimizing said placement characteristic comprises optimizing placementof said resonator in said hearing aid device to optimize signaltransmission between said hearing aid device and said further hearingaid device.